Container adapter

Abstract

An article-container adapter is provided to restrain an article from moving inside a container that has sidewalls which define an interior space larger than the article. The adapter has a base, configured to fit snugly inside the container, and a plurality of projections disposed on the base and spaced from each other to receive the article snugly therebetween. The base includes a floor panel having perimetric edge portions engageable with the container sidewalls; and the projections extend upwardly from the floor panel with article-confining surfaces perpendicular thereto. The base may also include outer wall sections extending upwardly from the floor panel perimetric edge portions to engage the container sidewalls; and the projections may then extend inwardly from the outer wall sections to position their article-confining surfaces for engagement by the inserted article. The base may further include a flange extending outwardly from an upper end portion of each outer wall section. Both the base and the projections may be integrally formed as a one-piece plastic insert for packaging various articles in standard-size containers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A container adapter, provided to restrain an article from moving inside a container that includes upstanding sidewalls having upward-facing edge portions and defining an interior space larger than the article, said adapter comprising: a base configured to fit snugly inside the container, said base including a floor panel having perimetric edge portions with outer wall sections projecting upwardly therefrom to engage the sidewalls of the container when placed therein, said outer wall sections each having an upper end portion with a flange projecting outwardly from it to overlie one of the sidewall upward-facing edge portions; and   a plurality of projections disposed on said base and spaced from each other so as to receive the article snugly between them, said projections extending upwardly from said floor panel and including article-confining surfaces substantially perpendicular thereto, said projections also extending inwardly from said outer wall sections to position said article-confining surfaces for engagement by the article when inserted therebetween, said article-confining surfaces including a plurality of polygonal surface areas engageable by the inserted article, at least some of said plurality of polygonal surface areas being spaced inwardly from one of said outer wall sections by differing amounts, to engage a portion of the inserted article when that portion and said one of said outer wall sections are nonparallel; whereby, when said adapter is snugly disposed in the container and the article is so disposed in said adapter, the article is restrained from moving inside the container.   
     
     
       2. A container adapter, provided to restrain an article from moving inside a container that includes upstanding sidewalls having upward-facing edge portions and defining an interior space larger than the article, said adapter comprising: a base configured to fit snugly inside the container, said base including a floor panel having perimetric edge portions with outer wall sections projecting upwardly therefrom to engage the sidewalls of the container when placed therein, said outer wall sections each having an upper end portion with a flange projecting outwardly from it to overlie one of the sidewall upward-facing edge portions; and   a plurality of projections disposed on said base and spaced from each other so as to receive the article snugly between them, said projections extending upwardly from said floor panel and including article-confining surfaces substantially perpendicular thereto, said projections also extending inwardly from said outer wall sections to position said article-confining surfaces for engagement by the article when inserted therebetween, said article-confining surfaces including a plurality of polygonal surface areas engageable by the inserted article;   whereby, when said adapter is snugly disposed in the container and the article is so disposed in said adapter, the article is restrained from moving inside the container; in combination with said container and a complemental lid therefor, said lid including a top wall portion coextensive with said container and side wall portions that depend from said top wall portion to closely surround said container sidewalls, wherein:     said adapter is snugly disposed inside said container, with said outer wall sections thereof engaging said container sidewalls and with the flanges on said outer wall sections overlying the upward-facing edge portions of said sidewalls; and   said lid is snugly disposed on said container, with said top wall portion thereof engaging said flanges and with said side wall portions thereof closely surrounding said sidewalls;   whereby said adapter is snugly enclosed by said container and said lid.